Lot details
Registration No: AHC 135
Chassis No: BD2-49005
Mot Expiry: None

Aimed squarely at the American market, the Austin A90 Atlantic Convertible was a brave gamble that did not pay off. Intended to generate a steady flow of US dollars and so satisfy the British government's ruthless 'export or die' edict, its flamboyant steel bodywork was a riot of bulbous curves, swooping lines and chrome accents. Launched at the 1948 London Motor Show, the Atlantic was underpinned by a rigid cruciform braced chassis equipped with independent coil-sprung front suspension, a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle and four-wheel drum brakes. Powered by a 2,660cc OHV four-cylinder engine mated to four-speed column-change manual transmission, it was more boulevardier than sports car. Not that this stopped Austin from pounding one round the Indianapolis Speedway for seven days non-stop. A feat that not only underlined the model's 92mph top speed but also yielded an impressive sixty-three stock car records (the convertible in question managing to average 70.54mph including all stops over its marathon 168-hour run). Although, joined by a companion Sports Saloon in September 1949, the Atlantic failed to capture the American public's imagination or wallets (its failure ironically being blamed on a lack of 'Britishness' and a 'worryingly' small powerplant). Thus, by the time production ceased in 1952 just 7,981 are thought to have been made.
Finished in grey with maize upholstery, this particular right-hand drive example was apparently built on October 25th 1949. Variously described by the vendor as being in "very poor" (paintwork), "poor" (chassis, bodywork, wheels / tyres) or "unknown" (engine, gearbox, electrical equipment) condition, it is believed but not warranted to have covered 95,239 miles from new. Seemingly complete but requiring full restoration, it is offered for sale with "Heritage Certificate, V5C registration document and duplicate green logbook".

PLEASE NOTE: We have not had this vehicle running.